Clinical naturopath Greta Durston on why “that’s normal” isn’t good enough, and what a healthy cycle actually looks like in real life.

 

Name: Greta Durston

Pronouns: she/her

Day job: Clinical Naturopath

Location:  Melbourne, Vic

 

Your work in one sentence?

I'm a clinical naturopath specialising in sexual and reproductive health.

 

The bigger story. How did you end up in women’s health?

Like many specialised practitioners, there’s a personal story here. About halfway through my naturopathy degree, I developed recurrent vaginal symptoms that progressed into excruciating, persistent pelvic pain, worse around my period. I saw countless GPs and was repeatedly prescribed fluconazole without further investigation. A naturopath suggested putting yoghurt on a tampon and inserting it to crowd out the yeast. I even ended up in the ER a couple of times with no answers.

After two years, my partner developed symptoms. One GP visit later, we had an answer: a stealth STI called Mycoplasma genitalium, which can escalate into pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated. Once I received appropriate treatment, I was able to rebalance my vaginal microbiome and haven’t had a single issue since.

That experience lit a fire in me. I knew we needed to do better. Sexual health often felt like an afterthought in naturopathy consultations and treatment options, and I wanted to change the way we approach this aspect of women’s health.

 

What do women think is the problem… and what’s really going on?

In my clinic, I commonly see vaginal microbiome imbalances, such as recurrent thrush, BV and UTIs, alongside hormonal conditions including endometriosis, PCOS, missing, heavy or irregular periods, and the transition into perimenopause and menopause. I also work extensively in preconception and fertility care.

It’s important to recognise that these issues rarely exist in isolation. Hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, chronic stress, metabolic dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation can all influence pelvic pain, cycle irregularities and vaginal health. That’s why I take a holistic, systems-based approach. Rather than simply treating the presenting symptom, I investigate the underlying drivers, whether that’s inflammation, stress load, thyroid function, gut health, immune balance or lifestyle factors, and provide comprehensive, tailored support.

What does a healthy cycle look like in real life?

A healthy cycle in real life doesn’t mean you float through 28 perfect days feeling radiant and spiritually aligned. It means your period comes roughly every 24 to 35 days, without you having to anxiously wonder if it will arrive. You bleed for about three to seven days. It’s not so heavy that you’re flooding through products every hour, and not so light that it barely feels like a proper bleed.

You might feel a little crampy on day one, maybe a bit slower, but you’re not cancelling your life, curled up on the bathroom floor, or relying on high-dose painkillers just to function. You notice natural shifts across the month. You might feel clearer and more social around ovulation, and need more downtime before your period, but those shifts feel rhythmic, not extreme or destabilising.

A healthy cycle also means:

• PMS that’s noticeable but not personality-altering
• No debilitating pelvic pain
• No persistent bloating that makes you look six months pregnant
• No recurring thrush or UTIs every month
• No extreme mood crashes that feel out of your control

In real life, a healthy cycle feels predictable, manageable and integrated into your world, not something you dread.

 

How do stress, under-eating, or over-training disrupt cycles?

Stress, under-eating, and overtraining affect the menstrual cycle by increasing cortisol levels. When cortisol stays high for a long time, the body prioritises survival, and reproduction drops down the list. The brain begins producing less follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone, which can lead to irregular ovulation or anovulation, and eventually loss of your period.

Oestrogen and testosterone are synthesised from cholesterol with the help of amino acids, so adequate dietary fat and protein are essential to support hormone production. And don’t forget carbs.

 

When should someone stop DIY-ing their period issues?

I recommend seeking further support when your period changes and isn’t normal for you, or if you experience extremely heavy, painful, irregular or missing periods. If you’re nailing the foundations of period health and your symptoms persist, it’s worth further investigation.

 

For painful periods, what are the first three things you check?

Hormone levels, especially peak luteal oestrogen and progesterone, the vaginal microbiome, and inflammatory markers.

 

Is period pain always hormonal? What else drives it?

Period pain is not always strictly hormonal. It can be worsened by stress, a high inflammatory load, vaginal microbiome imbalances or infections, endometriosis, adenomyosis or ovarian cysts. There are many drivers of period pain, so it’s important to investigate thoroughly.

How does hormone imbalance affect libido and intimacy?

Hormones are deeply intertwined with libido, arousal and emotional connection. In women, low oestrogen or testosterone can reduce sexual desire, arousal and sensitivity. This is common postpartum, during perimenopause and menopause, or during times of chronic stress. Difficulty with arousal and physical comfort can also signal hormonal shifts. Low oestrogen may contribute to vaginal dryness, thinning tissues or discomfort with intercourse.

Hormones affect more than the physical response. They influence mood, energy and emotional connection. Elevated cortisol from chronic stress can suppress sex hormones and reduce libido. Thyroid dysfunction may present as fatigue, low mood or anxiety, all of which can dampen desire. Progesterone and oestrogen imbalances can contribute to irritability, mood swings or feeling emotionally disconnected from a partner. When we address the drivers, whether that’s chronic stress, blood sugar dysregulation, inflammation or life-stage transitions, we often see improvements not just in libido, but in confidence and connection overall.

 

Why does pain disconnect women from pleasure?

When we have a history of pelvic pain, from any cause, it can often translate into sexual pain. Pain is the body’s alarm system, and when we experience something painful, the brain holds onto it to protect us next time. With chronic pain, pain receptor sensitivity can increase in that area, so we may experience pain during situations that were painful in the past, even without an obvious cause. This alarm system is hard-wired into our nervous system, which can create fear around sex and eventually lower libido or desire because the brain perceives it as unsafe.

 

Should we adjust our work, training, and plans to align with our cycle?

Absolutely. Understanding how our energy, creativity, and capacity change throughout the menstrual cycle, and adjusting your schedule and routine accordingly, can make life as a person who cycles much smoother. The key is to make changes based on your experience. Many cycle coaches say energy and sexual desire peak at ovulation, but for some women, ovulation brings fatigue or mood changes. What this looks like will be different for everyone.

 

Where do you start if you want to understand your hormones?

The best place to start is to track your cycle using an app or a notebook. This helps identify trends and symptom patterns. If you want to go a step further, speak to your health provider about testing your hormones. It’s important to test on specific days of your cycle, day two or three for most hormones, and five to seven days post-ovulation for oestrogen and progesterone. This helps identify your baseline hormonal output, the quality of ovulation and the hormonal drivers of symptoms you may experience in the week before your period.

 

Why are periods still taboo?

I think periods are still taboo because they sit at the intersection of sexism, discomfort with bodies and a broader cultural disconnect from women’s health. Menstruation has been framed as unhygienic, inconvenient or ‘too much.’ Many of us grew up hiding tampons up our sleeves, whispering about cramps or being told not to talk about it in public. That early conditioning runs deep. When something is treated as embarrassing during adolescence, it often carries into adulthood. There’s also the reality that menstrual blood makes people uncomfortable. Historically, anything that highlights female physiology has been minimised, medicalised or dismissed.

 

One message you’d give every woman about her health.

Your symptoms are information, not inconveniences to suppress. We’ve been conditioned to override our bodies. Push through the fatigue. Take something for the cramps. Ignore the low libido. Dismiss the mood swings. Numb the anxiety. Keep performing. But your body is not malfunctioning, it’s communicating. Your period is a monthly report card. Your libido reflects your nervous system and hormones. Your energy reflects stress load and metabolic health. Vaginal dryness, headaches, bloating, painful sex, and PMS are not random flaws. They’re data. Too many women have been told ‘that’s normal’ when what they’re experiencing is common, but not optimal.

 

MY CYCLE

• My period in 3 words: Predictable, achy, TIRED.
• Period self-care toolkit: Period underwear, dark chocolate, heat pack, magnesium and liquid herbs (cramp bark is a game-changer).
• Most underrated period self-care ritual? I love giving myself an at-home facial, taking a long bath and splurging on the expensive chocolate on Day 1. Embrace "inner winter" and treat yourself to some pampering.
• Contraception of choice: Barrier methods all the way! Natural latex condoms are my top pick.
• On Day 1, you’ll find me: With a heat pack permanently strapped around my waist, sipping ginger tea and taking it easy. (or try the rae Heat Pad - I recommend this to a lot of my clients!)